Pakistan empowers poor Tanzanian women

Pakistan`s High Commissioner to Tanzania, Tajammul Altaf (C) handing over a sewing machine to one of the 25 recipients as part of his country`s celebrations to mark the 72nd National Day

Twenty five poor women in Dar es Salaam city and its precincts on Friday felt Pakistan’s heartiest greetings of her 72nd national day after they each received a sewing machine to help them fight poverty.

The machines, each worth 100 US Dollars were issued by the High Commissioner for Pakistan in Tanzania, Tajammul Altaf for Tanzania at a brief ceremony at the High Commissioner’s office in the city…

A sigh of relief engulfed Sophia Mngole from Kinondoni area, one of the recipients of the donation. Sophia,37, has since her childhood been working as a house girl in various areas in the country. This was after her mother died when she was still at a tender age.

Poor Sophia had shown great dedication to her house-girl work which has made her live happily with every family she had been labouring for. She has been keeping her meagre pay she received to pay to a tailoring mart so that she could learn the art.

She is now able to make various designs for both male and female customers. That is why owners of the mart have retained her to assist them in their work. She however receives peanuts at the end of the day although her work mints much money for the owner of the mart.

After the Pakistan offer of the sewing machine she only said, ‘God is great.’ She has began to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The future looks bright for her.

‘This machine will liberate me from poverty. The sewing machine will make me raise money to take care of my nine-year old daughter Rispa who is in standard three.

The same feeling was felt by the other 19 recipients of the donation. Smiling, many had even enquired from the Pakistanis at the function how to say ‘Long live Pakistan’ in Urdu which is the national language of Pakistan.

“Pakistan Painda abad,’ meaning Long live Pakistan, they replied to any Pakistanis who greeted them at the function.

A flag hoisting ceremony to mark the 72nd Anniversary of the Pakistan was held at the High Commission for Pakistan in Dar es Salaam.

Many Pakistanis along with friends of Pakistan and Tanzania participated in the ceremony.

High Commissioner of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Tanzania, Tajammul Altaf, hoisted the flag in accompaniment of the national anthem of Pakistan.

Messages of the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan were read out on the occasion. The congratulatory message from President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, addressed to President Asif Ali Zardari was also read out.

At the function a news-bulletin of the Welfare Association of Pakistanis was launched before the 25 sewing machines were donated to widows and other women in need.

Pakistan greatly values its relationship with Tanzania and considers it as an important country in the East African Community.

The high commissioner said Pakistan attaches high importance to its close cordial and friendly relation with Tanzania. The two countries have ever since cooperated in various fields including capacity building of Tanzanians, in defense, industry, agriculture, diplomacy, police, health, education, banking and human resources management.

A message from the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari on the Pakistan Day said unless there was a rule of law and every one was equal before the law and unless the people of Pakistan work within the constitutionally defined parameters, stability would elude the Pakistan people.

He said the founding fathers of Pakistan had resolved to carve out an independent state where there will be democracy and where constitutionalism and rule of law would reign supreme.

“Unfortunately, successive dictators tried to stifle democratic aspirations of the people. Constitutionalism and rule of law was trampled by dictators….,” it said but however said,” on the eve of Pakistan Day this year, it is reassuring to realize that the Parliament has successfully removed the vestiges of dictatorship and restored the democratic constitution of Pakistan.

On his part, the Pakistan Prime Minister, Syed Yusuf Gilani said in a message to celebrate the day that the day was not only a day for celebration, but also an opportunity to reiterate the country’s pledge to keep working hard for attainment of the objectives contained in the Pakistan Resolution.

The Lahore Resolution commonly known as the Pakistan Resolution, was a formal political statement adopted by the Muslim League on the occasion of its three-day general session in 1940 that called for the creation of ‘independent states’ for Muslims in British India. The constituent units of these states were to be autonomous and sovereign.

“On this auspicious occasion, we pledge to uphold the supremacy of democracy and the rule of law at every cost,” it said.

It said the Pakistan people need to strengthen the principles of mutual tolerance, brotherhood and reconciliation to foster unity their ranks.

“We have to strengthen our national security and independence in accordance with our national aspirations. The day demands us to revive the spirit of Pakistan Movement in its entirety,” it said.

A message from President Jakaya Kikwete to President Asif Zardari on the occasion of the 72nd anniversary of the Pakistan Day was also read by the High Commissioner.

“On behalf of the Government and the people of the United Republic of Tanzania and on my own, I would like to convey my sincere congratulations to your Excellency and through you, to the Government and the people of Pakistan on the occasion of the celebration of the 72nd National day of Pakistan,” the message in part.

“I would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere satisfaction with the cordial, friendly and historic relations that exist between the governments and the people of Pakistan and United Republic of Tanzania,” it said..

“On this important day let me reiterate our sincere desire to further expand and strengthen the friendly relations and cooperation that exist between our two countries,” it said.